Electric signal



No. 749,195. PATENTED AN. 5, 1904.

B'. H. soon". ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

JAN.

Elven 2502";

f/Scorr.

UNITED STATES fatntd januaiy 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,105, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed January 20, 1903. Serial No. 139,745. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAPTIST H. Soon, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in annunciators, and is adapted to be employed in various connections where it is desired either to give an alarm or signal or to display a sign of suitable character.

The invention is applicable for use to display any desired sign in a theater or other place, or to give an alarm, or to give an alarm or signal and also display a sign-as, for instance, in a theatre in case of fire a suitable sign may be exposed to the view of the audience or any desired sign displayed for any purpose desired, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference will be employed for designating like parts throughout the difierent views, in which Figure l is a diagrammatical view illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and embodying a sign of suitable character adapted to be electrically operated and displayed. Fig. 2 is a like view of the apparatus constructed to display the sign and also operate a signal or alarm. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section or portion of a room showing the sign mounted in display position on the wall.

The apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted to be operated electrically, and the sign displayed is prefer-i ably of a form known'in the art as electric signs, though this is not essential, as any suitable sign may be electrically operated in accordance with my invention to be moved into display position.

In practice the sign to be displayed is pref overbalance the counterweight.

. erably normally hidden from view and is electrically moved into position for display at the desired time. I have therefore in Figs. 1 and 2 illustrated the sign 1 as normally positioned behind the partition 2, which may be a partition of any form. As stated, the form of sign used is preferably that known as an electric sign, and this sign 1 is suspended from a cord, cable, or other flexible connection 3, which passes over a suitablypositioned pulley or sheave 4 and has a counterweight 5 attached to its other end. This counterweight is of less heft than the sign itself, whereby the latter will normally The flexible connection 3 carries lugs or pins 6 7, suitably positioned thereon to automatically open and close a switch to complete the electrical circuit to the sign, as will later be described. The pulley or sheave 4 is provided in its periphery with a notch 8, and pivotally mounted above the pulley and to one side thereof is a pawl or latch 9, the hook end of which is adapted to normally engage in said notch. This pawl or latch 9 carries an armature 10, which is attracted to the magnet 11 when the latter is energized, and the pawl or latch thereby disengaged from the notch in the pulley or sheave, whereby to permit the sign to be lowered to the display position. Circuit is made through the magnet 11 by wires 12 14 through battery 15 to pushbuttons 16 or other form of circuit-closing devices, which may be located at any desirable place in the building. The pulley 4 carries a smaller pulley 17, and passing over this pulley l7 and the pulley 18 of the motor 19 is an endless belt 20. This endless belt 20 carries pins or lugs 21 22 fora purpose as will more presently appear. Circuit is made from the motor by circuit-wires 23 24 to suitablylocated push-buttons or other form of circuitolosing devices 25, a switch 26 being in the circuit-wire 24: and the wire 23 leading through a suitably-positioned battery 27. Where the 95 .sign displayed is an electric one, circuit is made with the lamps therein through wires 28 29, fed from battery 30, and the circuit is broken by switch 31. The construction of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that just described, with the addition of an electrically-operated hell or alarm 32. In both Figs. 1 and 2 the sign is shown in its retracted or normal position, while in Fig. 3 itis shown moved down to the display position.

In operation we will assume that the sign is in the retracted or normal position and it is desired to display the same. When the circuit-closing device 16 is operated, circuit is made from battery 15 over wire 12, through magnet 11, over wire l4,through circuit-closer and back to battery, thus energizing the magnet ll, attracting the armature 10 thereto, thereby releasing pawl or catch 9 from the pulley and allowing the sign (which is of greater weight than counterweight 5) to descend by gravity below the partition 2 into display position. As the sign descends counterweight 5 moves up,andwhen pin orlug 7 engages switch 31 this switch is closed and the circuit thereby closed from battery 30 through wires 28 29 to illuminate the sign. In connection with the showing in Fig. 2 when thislatter circuit has been established circuit will also be made to the bell 32. When it is desired to return the sign to its retracted or normal position, circuit-closing device 25 is operated and circuit established from battery 27 to motor, causing said motor to operate, and as pulley 18 rotates the lug 22 on belt 20 when it comes in engagement with switch 26 operates same to close the switch, and as the sign is carried up to its retracted position by the operation of endless belt over pulley 17 lug 6 strikes and opens switch 31, thereby to break the circuit to the sign as the latter assumes its normal position.

As heretofore stated, it is of course not essential that the sign be an illuminated one, as any suitably-inscribed sign could be operated in the same manner. It is also to be noted that the device can be employed in any place where it is desired to automatically or at a predetermined time display a sign or give an alarm. The circuit-closing devices employed will preferably be of a form which when operated will remain to maintain a closed circuit until opened manually.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of construction in detail, yet it will be evident that various slight changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the typeset forth comprising a sign adapted to be raised and lowered, rotatable means for supporting said sign, a cable secured to the sign passing over said means, a weight secu red to the cable, lugs mounted on said cable for automatically opening and closing a circuit for lighting the sign, means for locking said sign in raised position, electrical means for releasing the same, electrical means for returning the sign to position, comprising a motor, an electrical circuit leading therefrom, a switch for closing the same, a belt actuated by said motor, and engaging the said rotatable supporting means for the sign for turning the same, and means carried by the same to actuate said switch, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described apparatus com prising a movable sign, a pulley, a cable supporting the sign passing over the same, a pivoted pawl adapted to lock said pulley, electrical means for lifting said pawl to permit of the descent of the sign, electrical means for raising said sign, said means being connected with the pulley, a circuit forlighting the sign, a switch, and means carried by the cable for closing said switch, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BAPTIST H. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER. 

